Prime Toolings Revolutionizes Indian Defense with Indigenous Propulsion and Rotating Detonation Engines
The global aerospace industry is often defined by a few giant names—Boeing, Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and GE. For an MSME in Bangalore to break into this elite circle might seem like a flight of fancy. Yet, in the high-stakes arena of defense and weaponry, India's secret weapon isn't just large-scale manufacturing; it’s the lethal combination of indigenous engineering and Indian Jugard.
Enter Nikhil Gangamkote, the young CEO of Prime Toolings. A 2023 aerospace engineering graduate from MS Ramaiah, Nikhil has taken his father’s 1999 precision engineering firm and catapulted it into the defense sector. From consulting for the Israeli and Brazilian Air Forces to developing India's first low-cost **Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE)**, Nikhil is on a mission to ensure that India stops relying on expensive foreign imports and starts exporting its own high-efficiency weaponry.
The Evolution: From Jigs to Jet Engines
Prime Toolings started in 1999 as a precision engineering shop focused on jigs, fixtures, and tooling for the medical and automotive sectors. However, the potential for high-precision components like turbine blades led them toward aerospace.
Nikhil’s entry into the business was anything but a simple handover. "I worked in startups first. I needed to understand how the lower level of economics works," he explains. His early experience as a consultant for Shuster Aviation in Israel gave him a front-row seat to "turnkey" defense projects, helping air force entities set up manufacturing facilities during wartime when procurement delays of six months are unacceptable.
The Prime Toolings Niche
- Missile Propulsion: Developing engines for Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM) and short-range tactical weapons.
- RDE Technology: A game-changing Rotating Detonation Engine that promises 25% greater fuel efficiency.
- Weaponry Tech: Artillery shells, ramjet engines, and satellite thrusters—converting "anything into a weapon."
The Game-Changer: The Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE)
The core of Nikhil’s innovation is the Rotating Detonation Engine. While most private startups in India are focused on space rockets and satellite launches, Nikhil saw a gap in defense weaponry.
"The point we are missing is the defense setup. What if what is happening with Israel and Iran happens with India? We need weaponry tech that is indigenous," he asserts. By focusing on tactical missiles, he developed an RDE that is significantly more fuel-efficient than traditional engines, potentially extending the range of short-range missiles to 300-500 km.
The Power of "Indian Jugard"
Nikhil is brutally honest about the economics of war. "Eventually, all a missile does is explode. We don't need to over-invest in materials for a very short flight time." This pragmatic approach allowed him to slash the cost of a missile engine from the 70-80 lakh range (Russian equivalent) down to just 2.5 lakh rupees.
The Cost Disruption
90%+ Cost Reduction: By optimizing for "lifetime" rather than over-engineering for a 10-year durability that a missile never uses, Prime Toolings is proving that MSMEs can deliver world-class performance at a fraction of the price.
The Sourcing Puzzle: 40% Reliance on China
High-end defense manufacturing requires specialized materials. Nikhil reveals a stark reality: while material sourcing in India is getting easier through communities like **KASSIA** (Karnataka State Industrial Association), India still relies on foreign sources for avionics and electrical components.
"Material-wise, we are 40% dependent on China and the rest is indigenous. Sourcing precious metals or alloys is sorted through contacts and academic consultants from IISc and IITs," he explains. However, he believes the "dirty economics" of middlemen and political bribes is a larger hurdle than material availability itself.
How Prime Toolings Competes
- Execution over Marketing: Nikhil built the RDE first, tested it himself, and showcased the results to gain recognition in the Indian Defense Research bank.
- Selective Talent: Sourcing candidates based on project-specific strategic behavior rather than marks.
- State-Wise Ecosystems: Leveraging the pro-startup environments of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat.
Future Vision: India as a Weapons Powerhouse
Nikhil envisions Prime Toolings as a leading global defense tech company by 2030. His motto is clear: "Convert anything as a weapon." He believes that as the "boomer mindset" in government agencies fades and the focus shifts to efficiency over age or pedigree, MSMEs will finally lead the charge in Atmanirbhar Bharat.
"By 2030 or 2035, India will be self-reliant in terms of missiles. When the dirty economics is removed, we will be aviation superpowers very fast," he predicts. His work with SAM propulsion and RDEs is just the beginning of a shift where India stops adding extra zeros to its defense budget by buying from outside and starts trusting the "Indian jugard" at home.
Advice for Entrepreneurs
Keep Feelings Aside: Nikhil advises young founders to ignore emotions and focus on direct execution. "Once you have a niche, directly execute it. You will either win or you will learn. Don't worry about losses; come up with a proper product plan first."
Key Takeaways: The Prime Toolings Blueprint
- Target the Niche: While others build rockets for space, build the engines for tactical defense.
- Performance over Pedigree: The industry elders now care about the efficiency of the product, not the age of the CEO.
- Cost-Effective Lethality: Designing for the "mission lifetime" can reduce defense costs by over 90%.
- MSME Collaboration: The only way to bypass large-scale "import and label" practices is for MSMEs to coordinate and provide complete indigenous products.
As Nikhil Gangamkote continues to develop weaponry tech that is "featured globally," he remains a firm believer in India's potential. It isn't just about launching satellites; it’s about having the firepower to protect those communications. Through Prime Toolings, the next generation of Indian defense is already taking flight.
About the Guest
Nikhil Gangamkote is the CEO of Prime Toolings. An aerospace engineer from MS Ramaiah University, he has quickly become a leading voice in India’s indigenous defense tech sector. With experience consulting for the Israeli Air Force and specialized expertise in Rotating Detonation Engines, Nikhil is redefining how Indian MSMEs interact with global defense ecosystems. He is a recognized innovator, featured in the Indian Defense Research bank for his breakthrough propulsion systems.
Prime Toolings is a Bangalore-based precision engineering and manufacturing firm. Founded in 1999, the company has evolved from making tooling components to leading an aerospace division that develops SAM propulsion, satellite thrusters, and next-generation RDE technology for the Indian defense sector.